2021 Class AA Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview

 2021 CLASS AA STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

                             Games played Tuesday, March 30 

7:30:  Pelican Rapids (Seed 4 North) vs. Albany (Seed 1 North) at Pequot Lakes

4:00:  Glencoe-Silver Lake (Seed 3 South) vs. Minnehaha Academy (Seed 2 South) at Chanhassen

6:30:  Lake City (Seed 4 South) vs. New London-Spicer (Seed 1 South) at Chanhassen

5:00:  Duluth Marshall (Seed 3 North) vs. Providence Academy (Seed 2 North) at St. Cloud Tech

Examining the Field:  The red hot Pelican Rapids Vikings are in their fourth 14th state tournament and take a four game winning streak to the state tournament against the Albany Huskies.  Their only loss this season was to the New London-Spicer Wildcats.  Albany clinched their 13th trip to state by keep Sauk Centre on Main St. with a win in the Section 6AA finals.  Could there be a possible rematch with the Wildcats in the Class AA championship game?  

For the first time since 1998, the Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers clinched a state tournament berth with wins over Scott County powers Jordan and Belle Plaine.  They don't have far to go, a trip down Highway 212 to take on the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks, in their 13th state tournament appearance.  Their only two losses this season were to the Providence Academy Lions.  Is a third meeting possible if they play for the Class AA title?  

There's good news to report from Lake Pepin.  The Lake City Tigers are playing in their first state tournament since 1984.  The Tigers, seeded second in Section 1AA will face the unbeaten New London-Spicer Wildcats. It's been a monumental year for head coach Mike Dreier, who leads the Wildcats into their 19th state tournament but only 2-6 in state title games.  Can the Wildcats increase their record to 3-6?  

OK girls basketball fans.  Here's the matchup that was supposed to take place in last year's Class AA semifinals but didn't take place due to the tournament's cancellation.  The Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers, playing in their third state tournament battling the Providence Academy Lions, who are in their fifth trip to state.  The Hilltoppers have a Division I player in Gianna Kneepkens, who will play next season at Utah.  The Lions only loss this season was to the Concordia Academy Beacons.  It should be an outstanding game.